A pretrial conference—also known as a pretrial hearing or scheduling conference—is an informal meeting or discussion in the early stages of a lawsuit during which the attorneys and the judge work to schedule important deadlines in the lawsuit; identify important witnesses and documents; discuss settlement; and narrow the issues for trial.

The court will usually sign a pretrial order that includes its rulings and the parties' agreements on the matters discussed at the pretrial conference.

The pretrial conference is essentially a project management plan for the litigation. The timing of the pretrial conference and the issues to be addressed are usually included in the state's rules of civil procedure or code of civil procedure—or in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in federal court.

In Virginia, a pretrial conference is a procedural step in the civil litigation process where the judge and attorneys from both sides meet to discuss the case and set a timeline for the proceedings. This conference aims to streamline the trial by setting deadlines for motions, the exchange of discovery materials, and identifying key witnesses and evidence. It also provides an opportunity for discussing settlement possibilities. The outcomes of the pretrial conference are typically documented in a pretrial order, which outlines the agreed-upon schedule and issues, as well as any rulings made by the judge during the conference. The specifics of when a pretrial conference occurs and what it entails are governed by the Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure. These rules are designed to ensure an efficient and fair process, and they help to manage the litigation effectively, much like a project management plan. In federal cases, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure would apply.